If you want to invest in a budget friendly knife for your kitchen, we have the solution for you. What you need is to look for the best chef knife under $100. A good quality chef knife features a multipurpose functionality. With the same knife, you can chop, dice, slice, cut, mince, and carve.
Unlike specialized knives, such as a boning knife or electric fillet knife, with a chef knife, you can work on meats, vegetables, and even fruits. Investing in the best chef knife under $100 guarantees the same high quality results. Plus, you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets. So check out our list below of the 7 best chef knives under $100 to find the perfect addition to your kitchen.
Top 7 Best Chef Knives Under $100
1. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef Knife
Crafted with tapered stainless steel, the Victorinox chef knife delivers smooth cuts. Thanks to the stainless steel construction, each cut glides smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, the razor sharp steel blade can handle big and small kitchen tasks – be it, chops, minces, or dices.
Constructed with a thermoplastic elastomer handle, the knife delivers ergonomic handling. Plus, it ensures non-slip grip even when wet. Properly weighted and sized at 8 inches long, the knife offers perfect balance. To make cleaning easy, you can toss the knife in a dishwasher for thorough cleaning.
Features
- 8-inches long
- Razor sharp stainless steel construction
- Extra wide blade design with normal straight edges
- Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) handle
Pros
- The knife can be used for carving all types of meats, chopping, mincing, and dicing
- Tapered stainless steel blade edge cuts with ease and efficiency
- TPE handle construction offers non-slip handling even when the knife is wet
- Dishwasher safe construction
Cons
- The knife can be a little heavy for small tasks
2. Wüsthof Cook Knife
The 6-inch Wüsthof Cook’s Knife features a distinctive double bolster design. The double bolster design offers a great balance. Additionally, it allows offers superior heft for a truly professional-style kitchen operation. A proprietary Precision edge technology makes the blades 20% sharper than regular knives. The knife’s handle on the other end features a polyoxymethylene (POM) construction. The POM construction offers a comfortable grip.
Its synthetic formulation boasts a tighter molecular structure that prevents fading and discoloration. Additionally, the POM handle is triple riveted for added durability. Thanks to its weight and balance, the knife is ideal for heavy duty tasks such as cutting thick vegetables.
Features
- Precision forged carbon steel construction with 58 degrees Rockwell hardness
- 15 degrees razor sharp blade angle
- Precision Edge technology
- Triple riveted polyoxymethylene handle
Pros
- Built to chop, mince, slice, and dice thicker vegetables and meats
- Precision Edge technology offers 20% more sharpness and lasts twice as long
- Powerful long edge retention
- Half bolster allows for honing and sharpening the entire knife blade length
Cons
- The knife is extremely sharp thus, special care should be taken when using it
3. DALSTRONG Chef Knife
The Dalstrong combines Japanese craftsmanship and cutting edge technology for a scalpel-sharp performance. Handcrafted, the award-winning chef’s knife utilizes the traditional 3 step Honbazuke method. With this method, you will enjoy a mirror polished blade. The polished blade offers an 8 to 12-degree angle per side for superior cutting.
The blades go through a nitrogen cooling process to enhance hardness and flexibility. Its full tang delivers superior robustness. Its exquisite hammered tsuchime finish minimizes drag and sticking to food. The handle is triple riveted for even better resilience. To protect your fingers, the tapered bolster provides a perfect balance. Furthermore, the bolster offers finger protection and encourages a natural pinch grip.
Features
- Precise cryogenic blade crystallization tempering
- Shogun Series Tsunami Rose blade pattern
- 55 inch blade width with 8 to 12 degree angles on either side
- 6-inch blade with 66 layers of super carbon steel
Pros
- Intricate copper finish for added aesthetics
- Nitrogen cooled blade for added harness, flexibility and corrosion resistance
- Hammered tsuchime finish eliminates drag and prevents food from being stuck on the knife
- Blade width offers adequate knuckle clearance
Cons
- You may find the knife somewhat heavy if you are not a skilled cook
4. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef’s Knife
Built with high carbon forged and no stain German steel, the Mercer Chef’s Knife resists rust and discoloration. Its precision forged construction offers increased strength and durability. Its tapered edge on the other end adds stability and sharpness.
Additionally, the tapered edge makes honing easier for added efficiency during cutting and chopping. Furthermore, the chef knife under 100 features a bolster design which offers superior balance. The chef’s knife features a full tang that runs the entire handle length as well.
Features
- Precision forged German carbon steel constriction
- Taper ground blade edge
- Ergonomically designed Santoprene handle
- NSF safety certified
Pros
- Santoprene handle is heat resistant – doesn’t break or crack from high heat and temperatures
- Santoprene handle material offers non-slip performance when hands are wet
- Taper ground blade edge design increases stability and sharpness
- Ideally built for cutting and chopping meats and vegetables
Cons
- The knife is not dishwasher safe
5. Shun Classic Chef Knife
The Pakkawood handle of the Shun Chef’s knife increases its functionality. The Japanese style handle features a slight ridge on the right to fit perfectly on your finger curls. This fit, in turn, offers a comfortable and secure grip when using the knife. Furthermore, the Pakkawood hardwood handle is water-resistant and treated to prevent bacterial growth.
The knife’s blade itself boasts a tungsten, chromium, cobalt, and carbon reinforcement. This construction delivers a sharper edge, corrosion resistance, and superior strength. Additionally, it allows the knife to cover a cross-section of big and small tasks. They include dicing, cutting, slicing, mincing, and chopping.
Features
- 8-inch blade with 69 layers of stainless steel
- 16 degree blade angle
- Japanese style Pakkawood hardwood handle
- Tungsten, chromium, cobalt, and carbon reinforcement
Pros
- Blade is perfectly angled at a steeper 16 degrees for added flexibility whilst offering a stable hold
- Japanese style Pakkawood handles to fit your finger curls for secure and comfortable grip
- Reinforced with tungsten, chromium, cobalt, and carbon for extra sharpness, corrosion resistance, and high strength
- Ideally built for cutting and chopping meats and vegetables
Cons
- Blade can lose sharpness quickly over consistent usage
6. Zelite Infinity Chef Knife
The blade of the Zelite Infinity Chef Knife features 67 layers of carbon stainless steel. This Japanese style construction accounts for its enhanced strength. Thanks to the reinforced fabrication, the chef’s knife enjoys corrosion and stain-resistance.
Its Tsunami Damascus pattern delivers smooth gliding during slices, chops, minces, and dices. Its liquid nitrogen cooling on the other end gives it incredible Rockwell hardness. A high quality and military-grade triple-riveted handle offers great durability and grip. Its forged full tang further enhances its durability and strength.
Features
- Tsunami Rose Damascus Pattern
- Liquid nitrogen blade cooling
- 6-inch razor sharp blade with 67 stainless steel layers
- 12 degree pro razor edge per side
Pros
- Mirror polished cutting edge angle provides maximum sharpness and precision
- The tapered bolster offers extra comfort when using the knife
- Lighter and shorter build makes it easier to use even for unskilled individuals
- The tsunami Rose pattern enhances the knife’s look and cutting precision
Cons
- Blade can lose sharpness quickly over consistent usage
7. Global Chef’s Knife
The Global Chef’s Knife combines molybdenum and vanadium steel for superior strength. Yet, the combination of steel elements offers an ultralight body for easy handling. The affordable knife boasts a razor-sharp retention blade edge for optimum performance.
You can use the knife for both large and small tasks, be it carving meat or chopping thick veggies. Unlike most standard chef’s knives, this knife features a straight rather than a beveled edge. This design prevents the knife from chipping off your food. Plus, a straight rather than beveled edge stays sharper for longer.
Features
- 8-inch blade
- Stainless steel and dimpled handle
- Molybdenum, vanadium, and chromium steel mixture
- Straight edge blade
Pros
- Straight edge offers extra sharpness and stays sharper for long
- Large and prominent edge can be easily spotted by naked eyes to ensure safety
- Edge extends to a quarter inch from the tip of the knife for easier cutting and slicing
Cons
- Blade can lose sharpness quickly over consistent usage
What To Look For When Choosing The Best Chef Knife Under $100
Weight
When looking for the best chef knife under $100 to invest in, you must consider the weight. The lighter your knife is, the easier it will be to use it. So always go for lighter knives. Yet, some skilled cooks argue that heavier knives allow you to cut through food with more force.
A lighter knife on the other end allows you to maneuver the knife more skillfully. Either way, knives made with stainless steel blades and thermoplastic handles tend to be the lightest. Thanks to the increased ruggedness, stainless steel blades are durable as well.
Size
The best chef knife under $100 comes with a 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch blade. An 8-inch knife is more popular amongst cooks. A 6-inch knife offers more agility such as that you will enjoy with pairing knives. This is because of its shorter length.
But, if you are working with food with large volumes such as a thick lump of steak or a watermelon, a 6-inch knife fails. A 10-inch knife on the other end cuts through more volume. However, if it ends up on unskilled hands, it can easily be intimidating or even unsafe.
Balance
Balance is an important factor to consider when choosing the best chef knife under $100 as well. To gauge the balance of your knife, grab it on its handle. If it feels heavier on the handle or towards the blade, then, it is not ideal for you. An unbalanced knife makes the cutting process harder, slower and even unsafe.
Remember, balance can be only gauged by the user. Thus, when you want to buy your knife, opt for a seller with a flexible return policy. This allows you to return or exchange the knife for an alternative model.
Why Use A Chef’s Knife?
A chef’s knife offers versatility. You can use it for most kitchen tasks rather than focusing on a single task. Using a multi-purpose chef’s knife, you can mince, slice, dice, cut, chop, slice, and carve. Depending on the knife’s build, you can perform both large and small tasks. This ranges from cutting large meat joints and thick vegetables to dicing onions and garlic.
FAQs
How Do I Test A Chef’s Knife?
When choosing a chef’s knife, look for important functional features. These include its size, blade and handle material, and its weight. If satisfied with the remove features, the next step is to try the knife. Test out tasks such as mincing fresh herbs, dicing an onion, and slicing an apple. Also, try cutting carrots into thin strips, and carving a watermelon. If you succeed, then, the chef’s knife is perfect without any hiccups.
Can You Use A Chef’s Knife For Carving?
You can use a chef’s knife to carve fruits such as watermelon and even lighter meats. If the knife features a stronger blade, you can even use it to carve thicker meats. Yet, chef’s knives with shorter blades may not be ideal. If you want to use your chef’s knife for carving, opt for at least a 10-inch one. Alternatively, invest in a carving knife.
Are Cheap Chef’s Knives Of Poor Quality?
No. You can find the best chef knife under $100 built with exceptional quality. The secret to an excellent performing knife is to sharpen it at the right time. Whilst expensive knives stay sharp for longer, you can still use a good quality cheap knife at home. Just make sure it is properly sharpened and honed.
Conclusion
The chef’s knife reviews above prove how much value they add to any kitchen. With a chef’s knife, you can perform a wide range of tasks without having to invest in multiple knives. Plus, if you can pay less for a good quality knife – it’s a win-win situation for you. So, choose the best chef knife under $100 from the 7 units listed above.
Our top best pick for big and small kitchen tasks is the Victorinox Chef Knife whilst the runner up pick for cutting thicker meats and vegetables is the Wüsthof Cook’s Knife.